Saturday, April 12 – Barrett Library Open HouseBarrett Library (717 Queen St.) will host an open house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children’s activities will be held throughout the day including outdoor chalk and bubble fun, balloons, face painting, crafts, “fishing” for prizes and more! Other scheduled activities include a Fire Department visit from 10 a.m. to noon, a Kinderballet demonstration at 11 a.m., Blue Ridge Greyhound Adoption presentation at 1 p.m., and an appearance by Jordan the Jack Russell Terrier at 2 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. For more information, call 703.838.4555.

Saturday, April 12 – Del Ray Sign Dedication
Join City officials and Del Ray neighbors at the dedication of seven new historical markers at the Farmer’s Market, corner of Mount Vernon and East Oxford Avenues, at 8:45 a.m. As part of the celebration of the Town of Potomac’s centennial, interpretive signs have been installed at seven locations throughout Del Ray. For more information, please visit www.historicalexandria.org or call 703.838.4554.

Saturday, April 12 – Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia Gardening ProgramMaster Gardeners of Northern Virginia will host a free gardening program from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia will conduct a demonstration (weather permitting) and show participants how to grow a beautiful, prolific vegetable or flower garden in limited space by planting in containers. Drawing on the library’s rich collection of gardening books, two local gardeners will cover how to select the right pots and plants, how to prepare them for planting, and how to keep them healthy and happy, indoors or out. A reservation is requested, but not required, to help calculate the materials needed for the program. To RSVP or request more information, please call the Gardener’s Help Desk at 703.228.6414.

Sunday, April 13 – HistoricAlexandriALIVEAlexandria's historic past comes to life! See live, engaging performances by acrobat Signora Bella and musician Stephen Christoff along the waterfront from noon to 5 p.m. Meet people from 18th-century Alexandria as they stroll lower King Street and the City docks. Discover and celebrate what make Alexandria truly historic! For more information, please visithttp://oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Monday, April 14 – Tavern Toddlers
Because it is never too early for kids to appreciate history, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum developed this special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open playtime on Mondays at the museum, 134 North Royal St. In April, the theme is Having Fun where kids take part in play activities from the past and present. Cost is $10 for a group of three and the program runs 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Tuesday, April 15 – Book Reading with Local Author Emily YoffeA book reading by local author Emily Yoffe, who wrote What the Dog Did, will be held at 7 p.m. at Beatley Central Library (5005 Duke St.). Following the book reading, the public will have an opportunity to engage in a question and answer session with the author. This event is a part of related programming for All Alexandria Read 2008: "Tail of One City," in which the Alexandria Library invites the community to join in reading Marley & Me by John Grogan. The book reading is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. For more information, please call 703.519.5900.

Wednesday, April 16 – George Washington Myths LectureDr. Peter Henriques, professor from George Mason University, will present, “I Can’t Tell a Lie: Myths about George Washington that Should be Discarded,” at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $12 per person and reservations are recommended. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Wednesday, April 16 – Virginia Paving Community Liaison Committee Meeting
The Virginia Paving Community Liaison Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in the Samuel Tucker Elementary School mini-auditorium, 2nd floor, 435 Ferdinand Day Dr. The Community Liaison Committee was formed to discuss operations and to resolve any problems, conflicts, or issues identified by the community related to Virginia Paving's operations. The committee is composed of representatives from surrounding residential communities, Virginia Paving Company, and City staff. For more information, contact Rich Josephson at 703.838.4666 ext. 302.

Thursday, April 17 – Infill Task Force MeetingThe Infill Task Force will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 2000 of City Hall, 301 King St. The Task Force is discussing and refining final recommendations for how to address infill development in the City. For more information, contact Valerie Peterson at 703.838.4666 ext. 338.

Thursday, April 17 – TeensWork! Youth Job FairThe Mayor’s Youth Employment Initiative, in partnership with the TeensWork! Youth Employment Program, will hold its annual Youth Job Fair from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the T.C. Williams High School Cafeteria, 3330 King St. Many local employers will have representatives available to talk with young job seekers (ages 16 to 21) and conduct on-the-spot interviews. For more information, call Lissette Pippy at 703.838.4316 or visit alexandriava.gov/joblink.

Now Enrolling – Archaeology Summer Camp 2008Young people ages 12 to 15 will discover Alexandria’s history through archaeology at this unique day camp. Assist professional archaeologists at a real excavation site; go on special field trips, and more! Applications are now being accepted for two week-long sessions in July. For more information, please visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703.838.4399.

Now through Wednesday, December 31 – Drawings by William Lydston, Jr. ExhibitionThis exhibition features Civil War artwork at Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 4301 West Braddock Rd. Civil War drawings by soldier, artist and musician William Lydston, Jr., are highlighted in this exhibit with musical instruments and related objects as part of the statewide celebration of Virginia’s musical heritage. Admission to the museum is free. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, April 19 – Annual City-Wide Cheerleading CompetitionThe public is invited to attend the City’s Annual Cheerleading Competition on Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m., at T.C. Williams High School (3330 King St.). The competition features preteen and teen cheerleading squads from the Charles Barrett, Charles Houston, Cora Kelly, Mount Vernon, Nannie J. Lee, Patrick Henry and William Ramsay Recreation Centers. For additional information, call the Youth Sports Office of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.838.4345.

Saturday, April 19 – Benefit Performance by The Great ZucchiniA benefit performance of The Great Zucchini, recently rated as one of Washington's top children's entertainers, will be held at 11 a.m. at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. The Great Zucchini’s 40-minute show exemplifies “the wonder of magic and silliness of comedy that keeps children on the edge of their seats.” Proceeds from the performance will help raise funds for a planned soft playroom in Alexandria. Tickets are on sale now at www.softplayroom.express.ts.com.

Tuesday, April 22 – Gang Prevention Brown Bag LunchA brown bag lunch on gang prevention will be held from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Guest speakers from the Juvenile Court Service Intake Staff will discuss the Juvenile Intake Process. Learn what happens when a young person is arrested, share related program updates, and make announcements about your upcoming initiatives. This is the first in a series of presentations offered by the Court Service Unit. Please RSVP to Mike Mackey at 703-838-4180, 242 or e-mail mike.mackey@alexandriava.gov.

Thursday, April 24 –The 15th Annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work DayBring your child to work or mentor a student and give them an opportunity that will last a lifetime! Mentors are needed for local students who are participating in the 15th Annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. The event will kick off with a breakfast reception at 8 a.m. in Vola Lawson Lobby, City Hall, 301 King St. To volunteer as a mentor or request more information, call 703.746.5030 or complete an online application at www.alexandriava.gov/women/mentor application.

Friday, April 25 – First Annual “Spring for Alexandria”The community is invited to volunteer for the first annual Spring for Alexandria event, scheduled for Friday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The goal of this event is to gather hundreds of volunteers to provide community service at dozens of sites throughout the City, making it a better place for all of us! All volunteers receive a Spring for Alexandria t-shirt, and are invited to attend a community-wide celebration after the event at Market Square (301 King Street) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 703.836.2176 or visit www.springforalexandria.org.

Saturday, April 26 – Annual City of Alexandria Earth Day CelebrationThe City of Alexandria’s Earth Day Celebration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. The festival features environmental and family-friendly activities, including Arbor Day Tree planting, musical entertainment, environmental displays, Blue Sky Puppet Show, food, fun and much more. Admission is free and the event will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit www.alexearthday.org, or call the Special Events Office at 703.838.4844.

Saturday, April 26 – Alexandria’s Urban Forestry Steering Committee to Hold Third Annual Alexandria Earth Day Tree Sale Alexandria’s Urban Forestry Steering Committee and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will hold a City tree sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. Tree stewards will be available at the sale to provide consultation on tree choice and care. Shade and ornamental trees will be available for $30, and evergreen trees will be available for $40. If 10 or more trees are purchased and will be planted on one site, assistance with planting can be requested (for an additional fee). To reserve a tree, call Jerry Dieruf, Arborist, at 703.838.4999, ext. 451, or e-mail jerry.dieruf@alexandriava.gov.

Tuesday, April 29 – Days of Remembrance ProgramThe City of Alexandria will observe the Days of Remembrance, Yom HaShoah, for the victims of the Holocaust at noon on Tuesday, April 29, in Market Square, 301 King St. The Alexandria City Council hosts the annual ceremony as part of the weeklong commemoration of the national Days of Remembrance. The guest speaker for the ceremony will be Dr. Klaus Sharioth, the German ambassador to the United States. The event is open to the public, and, in case of inclement weather, will be held in the Vola Lawson Lobby, located on the first floor of City Hall, 301 King St., on the Cameron Street side of the building. For more information, please call 703.838.4343.